Best of Scandinavia in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having a guide like Gabriela really makes a great tour turn into an OUTSTANDING tour. So much diverse landscape in Scandinavia to great food to a group of travelers that gel is what makes the Rick Steves tour a top notch tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Ærø is beyond charming. Oslo was a hidden surprise! The Fjord boat ride was also very memorable, but our bus ride to Bergen was THE GEM of our tour thanks to Leif our driver and Gabriela our guide!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 11th Rick Steves tour, and they have all been fabulous. Our guide, Gabby, was fabulous, as were all the city guides. I learned a lot, had fun, and saw many places I have never seen and will never forget.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Aero Island. It is such a charming place, and we were lucky to have beautiful sunny weather. The little town was fun to walk through, our city guide was informative and entertaining, and I didn't want to leave."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Over all experience was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The end of the tour going thru the fjords"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can’t think of a wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful guide with Gabby and a wonderful group to travel with. Everyone respected each other and bonded well. Everyone was flexible and we helped each other, no matter who they were. Gabby was energetic, friendly, helpful, and very informative communicating all of the areas we visited. She was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords were beautiful with the many waterfalls and Aero Island was very nice in its own right. It was a very special place with special people. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was lively and fun and very well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lovely Aero Island in Denmark was so very charming. The pace of life was calm and relaxing and the town of Aeroskobing was a delight. I also loved the mountains of Norway which were so beautiful it's difficult to find the words to describe them. There were so many gushing rivers and waterfalls and rivulets everywhere you looked. The terrain was green and lush. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I am half Norwegian, so I was excited to see my home country, learn the history and experience the culture. Rick Steves tours always encourage learning some of the language, but Scandinavian words are hard to pronounce! Gabriella was the perfect guide - she is so knowledgeable, has a great sense of humor and is full of energy and life! She seamlessly dealt with several hiccups along the way, with the help of Leif, our bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gabby put together a “happy hour” on the bus, on our way to Bergen. We had had two long bus rides in a row and this is what good guides do. She served wine leftover from the day’s picnic lunch and snacks. She handed over her phone, to take requests for a party music playlist. And when we came to tunnel construction and Leif knew exactly how long the stop would be, he got up and danced down the aisle - Gabby and others joined in! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour of Scandinavia. It could easily have been a month long and still not cover enough.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too difficult to choose."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Loved our tour guide, Gabriella, and also our bus driver, Leif. They are extremely professional, but also kind, thoughtful people who made every member of our tour group feel appreciated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords of Norway are spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour provides a solid overview of Scandinavian sights. Our guide, Ylva, also provided us a lot on the history and culture, including the differences. [Beginning in 2025, the Stockholm-Copenhagen leg will change from two days to one, allowing an additional day in Copenhagen. I think that's a good move.]

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mine was the stunning view from Sognefellet in the Norwegian mountains."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I particularly enjoyed the small boat tour that went with the soup lunch at the fishing shack."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Our guide, Ylva, was so informative and responsive. I was first worried about the food choices since I can’t eat fish but that was not a problem. We were offered a meat, fish, or vegetarian option. I wish I had known before the trip that the group would be using WhatsApp to share information. I could not download on the trip since I didn’t have my Apple password.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Drive through the Norway mountains and the fjord boat road were major highlights for me. The scenery was stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

all good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"all"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour provided a good combination of big city and small village experiences. Our tour guide Pål was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, organized, good communicator, and a nice and funny guy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our day on Ærø island in Denmark spent exploring the sights on foot and by bike was memorable as well as the beautiful boat ride in the Norwegian fjord."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Views while cruising the fjords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The sights were all interesting, I loved learning the history of Scandinavia, hotels were in great locations, everything I would expect from a Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’m not sure I had a real wow moment, as I’ve traveled a lot. I guess it was in getting the details of the Scandinavian countries’ social contract. No wonder they’re so happy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Poul was an exceptional tour guide and made the tour outstanding with his amazing breadth of know, his kind and gentle demeanor, and his enthusiasm for the countries. I loved all the guides. I loved the places we went. And I love the schedule. It is great to have free time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the fiord boat tour but also found all the Viking sites fascinating. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

1)Tour shadowed a First Class Scandinavian food trip: Danish Christmas feast; Crayfish Festival lunch stop; Traditional open-faced sandwiches on AEro; reindeer and lamb traditional gastronomical dishes; Rajissumo gelato; Fika Fika Fika on busrides. 2)Pal on bus gave fun fascinating economic, historical, cultural lectures like "Travels in Next Millenium" by Hans Christian Anderson 1800s. 3)Hotels at prime spots. 4)Free time to thrive. 5)Weather sunny warm except 2d. 6)Fabulous kind tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW Wondrous Off-beaten-path Winners are all must-sees: Roskilde Cathedral tour; Voderup Klint cliff hike; Kalmar Castle in morn mist plus Witches exhibition; Bronze Age Petroglyphs stop; EvertssjobodGrebbestad mussel soup with Bohuslan archipelago boatride; Borgund Stave Church tour; Laerdal stay to Norway-in-a-nutshell, AEro Island bicycle riding; Gota canal stop with hike up stairs to vista; Varberg town stay with fort. I cannot play Favorites when this Tour gives the Best of Scandinavia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip! Very organized and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Aero Island! So gorgeous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a stupendous mixture of city culture sights and country viewing. We were exposed to a variety of new foods and sugary treats. Speaking of food, in Copenhagen, the hotdogs were great! Plenty of sights to view on our own, but unfortunately never enough time to see them all or to linger at the museums. The wacky Hotell Gästis in Varberg was an experience in itself. Pål our guide was keen to help and I learned a lot from him.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW was an entire day. Starting in the sleepy city of Laedrdal, driving to scenic Gudvangen, Norway, spending time at the “The Viking Experience” museum (one guide there was GREAT), our picnic and then the scenic boat ride in the Sognefjord on our way to Bergen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fiord cruise"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved our guide! The best guide that we have ever had. Loved all the places, especially Aero island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Stave church that Pal got us into"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall tour experience was wonderful! The group of people we were lucky enough to travel with was friendly, inclusive, flexible and cheerful. There was a perfect mix of busy days and free time to relax or explore on our own. Our guide, Heidi was fantastic and of course, the beauty and variety of Scandinavia underpinned the entire lovely experience. Fantastic weather was a bonus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite wow moment was the lunch, the boat ride and the view from the Grebbestad B & B. The fjord cruise in Norway was a close second!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another fantastic Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero was awesome. Also, added Stockholm to the 'we could live here' list."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow, what a great tour. The main guide and local guides were excellent, the activities and sights varied...we lucked out with great weather almost the whole tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norwegian fjords, swimming on Aero island in Denmark, and the boat ride in Grebbestad were my wow moments "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. I first saw Rick Steves in person in 2005 when I attended one of his lectures in Edmonds Washington. I was a poor college student at the time and vowed that one day I would take one of his tours. 19 years later I made that dream come true and it exceeded my expectations! Our tour guide Heidi was very knowledgeable about Scandinavian history and culture. I loved her sense of humor. The additional local guides and our driver were also amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the city of Stockholm. Riding a bike in Aero with the views along the water was breathtaking. The people of Scandinavia are so friendly and accommodating. The Fjords of Norway were of course magical! I really enjoyed Bergen. But most of all my favorite wow moment was traveling with an amazing group of people, driver and tour guides! It was the best 14 days! The food was so good. Especially the Danish Christmas meal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Informative, organized, fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking out the bus window at the beauty of Norway. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From our first meeting, with the help of our guide, we quickly we became a cohesive group. Each morning tour gave us cultural and historical insights and information as well as the lay of the land to allow our later wandering to be more interesting, educational and fun. This is our fourth Rick Steves tour, and as always our travel arrangements were easy and our tour guides, Heidi and our local guides, greatly enhanced our experience along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As impressive as their cities were, I think fjords of Norway were the highlight of the trip with wow moments around each bend."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Our guide, Heidi was outstanding. The historical, political, and cultural insights she shared were just great, very informative. Her sense of humor was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norway fjords and Sweden small boat trip."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Covered a lot of territory. The Scandinavian countries were beautiful. Enjoyed hearing about the history, culture, similarities and differences between Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed riding bicycles to a Stone Age mound tomb on the island of Aero. The fjord tour in Norway was incredibly beautiful. Enjoyed the people we met. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed seeing & learning the history of Scandinavia. Heidi did a great job comparing the countries. Our weather was outstanding, which makes a big difference. I like having local guides to have a different voice talking to us. Hakan, in Stockholm, took us into his apartment which we all enjoyed. I like the mix of big city and being in nature & small cities. A lot of time on the bus. Heidi broke it up with dome bus activities. Our group gelled as time went on and mixed up who we ate wi

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking the ferry down the fjord. It was a sunny day, which made it spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour provided a real perspective of Scandinavian history that was totally missing from our background. We particularly enjoyed the insights provided by our native Danish guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We can summarize several wow moments as the maritime experiences on this tour, from the Vasa Museum (my favorite "wow"), to the Viking Ship Museum (where the origin of many ceiling architectures was apparent), to Aero Island, to our own fishing boat ride in the Swedish archipelago, to Kon-Tiki and the Fram Museum (my husband's favorite "wow." I also have to mention Frogner Park and Vigeland's sculptures---WOW !"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

With only two days into the tour we began to suspect that we had the good fortune of getting the best tour guide RS Tours has. Ylva Gunillasdotter kept us all in line and on time in the most enjoyable way. Her entertaining and fascinatingly educational commentary made those 14 days so much more than just a tour. Her ability to watch out for all 28 of us and not miss a beat of the rigorous agenda was amazing. at this point in our lives this may be the only time we get to visit Scandinavia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To have such an in depth experience of Scandinavia leaves us feeling richly rewarded. Hard to pick just one standout but Aero Island was special also the time in the Norwegian mountains was food for our souls. Hard to find words for the deep peace we felt there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing experience! Our Guide, mother and big sister Ylva was simply superb, and the way she allowed us to experience the "real" life of a local family was such a surprise and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our surprise encounter with an historic author in Copenhagen who joined us for dinner. I dare not say more. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour lived up to everything I expected it to be.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Even though it was raining I thought the fjords were quite spectacular to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

For me it was a terrific experience having never done a group tour before only self-guided bike tours of France i was impressed with the efficiency and ease of transition from location to location. The thoughtfulness of tours guides & schedule. Ylva our tour leader was magnificent! Charming organized and always anticipating the next exciting topic or event. Her knowledge of the countries history and cultural idiosyncraticies was fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The most memorable tour of Stockholm neighborhood where Ylva lives raised her children and is an active member in her community brought home the very personal aspect of what a special tour this is. My career as a chef in Hawaii, is the same guest experience when i would go into the dinning room to deliver a dish or check on a guests meal. Our Aero island visit and well informed local tour guide, & of course the beautiful cruise through the Fiords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the tour. Ylva is a great leader. She shared interesting information throughout, and I enjoyed the Norwegian troll folklore! Nice, fun group of people, good driver (Krister) and local guides, beautiful sites and experiences throughout.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments, including the Vasa warship, seeing local guides home in Stockholm, beautiful Copenhagen, Oslo museums, wooden/electric boat ride in Sweden with nice lunch (Grebbestad), Vigeland Park, Norway fjords. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour ever so we did not know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised on every level. First and foremost with our tour guide, Ylva. She was simply perfect in every way: smart, patient, kind for sure. Also just fun to be with. We were blown away that she and her partner had all of us up to their apartment to share their lives with us. So open and generous. Set the tone for the rest of the tour. Sharing their lives with us changed our lives by making us more willing to be o

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Well, number one would be the walking tour of Stockholm which included the visit to Ilva’s home. Number 2 for me would be the Christmas dinner on Aero Island. Number 3 the countryside of Norway including the Fjord boat ride. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, we enjoyed Scandinavia. The people were friendly and spoke excellent English. All of the local guides were very knowledge and showed great pride while talking about their home city. Ylva was a lot of fun and her knowledge of Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian history and culture is incredible. She is always upbeat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride and lunch in the lakeside resort of Grebbestad. Beautiful scenery and very relaxing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful trip, with special kudos for our lively, informative guide, Tim. So much packed into the itinerary and also a good mix of free time to explore on our own. Even those daunting hours-long drives could be entertaining in a bus that was roomy and had a good sound system. Our driver, Pinge, was friendly, professional, and very skilled. The local guides throughout were super. Fellow travelers were a fun, interesting group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tight-packed, blustery, dramatic boat tour of Sognefjord"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour! Our tour guide, Tim, was organized, well-spoken, and lots of fun. Our group got along well. We enjoyed the balance of group activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorite moments was the boat ride and luncheon at the Swedish fishing village. The boat ride was so scenic and peaceful, and the boathouse lunch was iconic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, a nice combination on the tour of key sites we shouldn't miss and amazing things off the beaten path. Great primary and local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island - loved the walkability and lodging"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many "wow" moments. But the hourlong ride on the fishing boat and lunch afterward was a highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great mix of group and free time. We had a good group of fellow travelers that helped make this a memorable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A couple of favorite "wow" moments. One was the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. The other was the time we spent in the small Swedish fishing village, the relaxing boat ride followed by a delish mussel soup. Definitely an experience we would not have found if we had been traveling on our own."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved talking to local people in all three countries I was limited because my gait deteriorated and I couldn't get around so well. Had I had a bicycle, there would have been no trouble getting around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I do not work with WOW moments. I really enjoyed the Scandinavian concept of WE as opposed to ME and I loved the fact that they believe it is possible to have enough "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third Rick Steves tour and it was extremely well-organized with a great, small group. Our tour guide,Tim, and all of the local guides were excellent and gave us walking tours and info. about the history, culture, and music of each place. The location of each comfortable hotel was perfect for exploring. The tour guides gave me the confidence to navigate as a solo traveler during free time. At the final group dinner Tim reminded us of all that we had experienced on our fabulous trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially loved the relaxing lunch, boat ride, and lovely hosts at Evert’s in the picturesque Swedish village of Grebbestad. Aeroskobing was wonderful for exploring the harbor, shops, cafes, and walks out to the colorful beach huts. I was enthralled with the open-air folk museums at Skansen and Valdres, The musical presentation, old farm houses, and costume exhibits were just magical. The Nordic Museum in Stockholm was a particular highlight of my free time. I enjoyed everything on the tour!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I highly recommend the Scandinavia tour. It was our first trip to these 3 countries and our 6th RS trip overall. These are countries a tad less traveled than some of the others, but they are all beautiful in their own right. The major cities of each, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen are all quite pedestrian friendly and I felt very safe. Would highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There isn't one specific moment, but a few things that come to mind were the beauty of Stockholm and Oslo. Very neat, exciting, modern cities, with tons of things to do. Museums, parks, waterways, nightlife. The fjords and sheer beauty of Norway is something to behold as well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of my favorite tours! Scandanavia was beautiful and the cool temperatures were a treat! I liked that the stays in the large cities were followed by time in smaller towns - a good variety. We had the best tour group I have experienced out of the six Rick Steves tours I have taken, which certainly added to the fun. Nina did a great job and it is evident she loves what she does.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stop in Grebbestad for a delicious lunch and boat ride on a perfect sunny day is a treasured memory."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an extraordinary guide, Nina, who shared with us her passion for travel and geography, history and language. All of the local guides were also very knowledgeable and entertaining. Incredible scenery and a great tour group made this a marvelous journey.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I so enjoyed our afternoon lunch and boat ride in Grebbestad. We had perfect weather and it was just a lovely trip through the archipelago. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Nina, was fun loving, full of extensive information about Scandinavia and was a life saver when I left medications in our previous hotel! The local tour guides were excellent in providing information with humor and laughter! One guide even invited us into his apartment for a much needed break! There was a good balance between activities and free time and always good suggestions from Nina as to how to use our free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments on this tour like the Vasa ship (just amazing), the island town of Aeroskobing (so charming), carved petroglyphs (lined in red for visibility), the boathouse ride and outstanding lunch (mussel soup!) and last but not the least, the incredibly beautiful Sognefjord cruise even in the rain!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We covered a lot of ground to get to know these three beauti countries. I loved the local guides and the freedom they felt they had to answer our questions as fully as they did. I expect and appreciate this from a “Rick Steves Tour”. The Scandinavian people seem to be together on making their democracies work. Very encouraging in light of our American politics. With the Alabama humidity and temperatures, we could not have picked a better time to be in these beautiful countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite experiences were the Kon-Tiki and Fram Museums and Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, Millesgarden in Stockholm, and the informal Happy Hour at Aero. Great itinerary."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, long bus rides but the scenery was impressive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two wow moments: Staying at the Andelen guesthouse on Aero island - perfect medieval style bedroom and modern bathrooms. Also the Osterbo Fjellstove hotel in the mountains was great - we could have spent a week there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous tour! Great group of fellow travelers, wonderful tour guides whom were informative and caring and funky local guides. The hotels all had great breakfasts and tiny European showers! No complaints however. You do spend a lot of hours on the bus, with regular stops. This was anticipated because you cover a lot of beautiful scenery in visiting 3 countries. My wife had recently injured her knee and was wearing a large brace. The guides and my fellow travelers were helpful all good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although the National Museum in Oslo was amazing, the fellowship of the 2 guides and my happy travelers was definitely the highlight for me. This was our second terrific Rick Steves tour. Although highly recommended these proceeded at a go go pace. My wife had an injured knee but she toughed it out. A warning if you have mobility issues. Let’s all thank Rick and wish him well in his medical journey "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized tour of so much of Scandinavia. The tour guide and local guides were excellent, and the hotels were in perfect central locations and very comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wows on this tour! The scenery in Norway and the Island of Aeroskobing were outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first RS tour. I loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting with my husband at a picnic table on Aero Island overlooking the Baltic with a beautiful sky, wild flowers, a wheat field and grazing cattle in our view. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An outstanding deep dive into Scandinavia. That said there are areas of improvement.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabby set the tone for one of the best experiences in my life. She was engaging, well organized, often had a surprise or two for us that enriched our opportunity to appreciate Scandinavian culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dinner in Æro, especially the strawberry compote. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a joy to experience these countries, their histories, and their cultures. Fellow travelers were agreeable, guide was energetic and knowledgeable, and accommodations were adequate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we arrived in Copenhagen, as we climbed off the bus at our hotel, multiple people said, "It's the picture!", in reference to the across-the-street view of the colorful buildings that we all see in travel posters. That was "wow, we're lodging right in the picture!""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed learning about the history, the people, seeing the beautiful cities, town and countryside of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Our tour guide, Gabriella, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the beautiful cities and towns, biking in Aero, and riding the ferry through the fjords of Norway were my wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabriela was an excellent guide. She was knowledgeable in history and folklore. She was good humored and a lot of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wife and I loved Frogner Park in Oslo with the Vigeland sculptures. The multiple art installations in Oslo provided WOW moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful. Insightful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Enjoyed the countries, specially the rural countryside. Cities have interesting history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"These countries deal with recycling and trash which would be models for our country. Be in at the top of the funicular at Bergen, Norway…."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Submersed in the culture through the various guides. Enjoyed the people and sites. We saw some beautiful scenery in Norway. Too much bus time and some wasted stops that could have given us more time in our final destination.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero island and Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The program was very well organized and we got to see a lot of places in a short time. Heidi was very competent and thorough. I liked having local tour guides at various locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going through the 15 mile tunnel in Norway was a surprise! The fantastic breakfasts that we had were amazing. The day spent at Everto Sjobod in Norway was really a fun experience. Enjoyed seeing the small villages."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience was excellent. We enjoyed the unique experiences arranged by the Rick Steve's group. There also plenty of free time to do what we wanted. We also appreciated the small size of the group that allowed us to get to know everyone on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of the WOW moments for us was visiting various little villages for stays and eating. It helped us get a feel for some of the quieter routine life of the Scandinavian countries"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ærø Island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guides were all excellent. Very knowledgeable on the area and history. Heidi was outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the soup by Hannah and boat ride from her father in the fishing area through the archipelagos."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations! Our tour guide, Heidi, was phenomenal. She was friendly, caring, organized and shared many interesting details on Scandinavian life - you could not ask for a better tour guide. The tour was great, and she made it phenomenal. It was great having somebody deal with the logistics of the trip so I didn't have to plan it myself. Also, I was able to see places I wouldn't have gone to mentioned in the Rick Steves' guide book, such as Æro Island.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Æro Island was amazing. The hotel we stayed at (På Torvet) was straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog - breathtaking. The city, Ærøskøbing, was magical. Loved the hundreds of years old brightly colored cottages and the beach walk (from Rick Steves' guide book - walking tour), and the guided tour, and the success story of how the town pulled together to save it. It would be a good place to stay for a relaxing month! I would never have gone here if I had planned the trip myself. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was flawless from start to finish!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our first tour guide in touring Stockholm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I think the tour had a great balance between guided tours with information about other points of interested we can visit, and "free" time to explore on our own and take in the sights we might be interested in that could differ from the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Vasa ship and Viking museums. Sailing the Fjords was also a highlight. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredible!! Every day and part was wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sweden and Denmark - so beautiful and so clean"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well planned and executed. Tim was an excellent guide. Great balance of cities and smaller towns. Travel days were sometimes long, but there were always planned & surprise stops to keep us wondering what Tim would do next. Loved having our free time to do our own thing as much as we enjoyed group events. Local guides ranged from Outstanding to Very Good. Great way to see Scandinavia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two: being invited into his Stockholm home by our amazing local guide, Håkan, to visit and have a chat & our visit to Everts Sjöbod Grebbestad for lunch and a boat ride - which also felt like an invitation into the family home."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole tour - the sites, the coach, the hotels, the driver, Tim the tour leader and all the fellow tourists were outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour with just the right mix of programmed activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very impressed with the natural beauty of Norway. On the bus we passed some magnificent mountains and fjords. The fjord cruise was great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was exceptional, thanks to our guide Tim. His dedication was evident as he went above and beyond every day. Tim's extensive knowledge about each country, along with his insight into local social and political realities, made the experience truly enriching. He revealed hidden gems and provided a depth of understanding that we wouldn’t have achieved on our own. Additionally, our local guides were fantastic, enhancing the tour with their expertise and making our journey unforgettable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Highlights included the breathtaking fjords of Norway and the charming bike ride around Ærø Island. I particularly enjoyed exploring the Bronze Age burial mound, situated on a scenic hill and off the beaten path, offering a glimpse into the island's early history. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every single day held such amazing opportunities for experiencing the places and their histories. It is impossible to pick a favorite day because it was so well balanced with excellence.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As above...but I'd say the ease of walking around the cities and the time allowed for exploration were exceptional. Oslo was beyond my expectations in its uniqueness--things like the library, the opera house, and the Nobel museum were tops."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing! We saw an incredible amount without it being overwhelming. Our guide and driver were wonderful, making sure things went off without a hitch and ensuring we had a fantastic experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking around Aero. It was gorgeous and like a village from another time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavia was everything we hoped for and more. Our tour leader Tim was terrific, our driver was awesome and our fellow travelers were fun. This was a great journey!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every where we went was a “wow”. We particularly loved our time on the island Aero. Beautiful! The 13 days of sunshine were beyond our expectations, too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Saw places that I would never have thought to go to on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the VASA in Stockholm. Also the fjord cruise, just stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Always wanted to see Scandinavia and this was a great opportunity. A good size group and great tour guide, Tim. Lots of information shared

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each stop had at least one "wow " moment. Finally seeing some of the places we had heard of, in reality"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, the tour was enjoyable and educational. The tour was my first trip to Europe, and my ancestry is Swedish and Norwegian. These things made the trip especially engaging and satisfying. I appreciated the obvious effort to expose us to a range of environments and experiences, everything from castles to modern-day fishing boats. The guides were great. I appreciated the overall perspective provided by our primary guide as well as the site-based color/perspective provided by the local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord boat ride. My wife and I traveled to Utah and Arizona recently. Our trip included the Grand Canyon, which we observed from the rim. Experiencing the grand effects of nature, similar, but in another part of the world, and being on the water that created those changes was a "Wow" experience for me. A second was to hear Hakan, our Stockholm guide, talk about the impact of the social system support for children and parents over two generations in his family. If only we had that in the US."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was well planned and thought out. From the orientation to the “last supper’ together, the sites, tours, experiences, bonding with fellow travelers built on one other for a remarkable social, cultural and educational experience. Our tour guide Tim was excellent, very knowledgeable and really fun. Busy days with lots of walking were balanced with days that were less so. The itinerary though descriptive and helpful, could never quite capture the actual experience, so we were repeatedly awed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not fair--like asking which is my favorite child! But having to pick just one "wow" I would say it was Day 9, when we enjoyed the boat ride through the Archipelago with a local fisherman, and then as a group shared a simple but very tasty lunch in the charming boat house. There were so many facets to it--being out on the water and seeing a very different landscape, learning about the area and its history, and enjoying each others company on the boat and over the excellent noon time meal. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Scandinavia tour was a great mix of cities and smaller towns/villages that really highlighted Sweden, Denmark, & Norway which was shared by an excellent Rick Steves guide Ylva.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Frogner Park w/ Vigeland Sculptures"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group, excellent guide and driver. Enjoyed so many varied sights and experiences. Third Rick Steves tour and it rates right up there with the others. The only drawback was too many hours on the bus, but to cover that much area, no way to avoid it. Loved every place we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were quite a few on this tour. My top 2 were going to our guides home in old town Stockholm. Spending that intimate time with our group, our guide and her husband was very special. The other highlight was Aeros Island. Stunning beauty!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

History of the countries.was interesting, but complicated. Perhaps a short outline of the various people and their relationships would be helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Spectacular waterfalls!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another stellar tour with superb local and overall guides. Very much liked the west coast of Sweden and the local lunch. I got my long-time wish of seeing Tivoli Gardens, but overall would have liked some added time in Copenhagen. Aero Island and Aeroskobing are special memories as was Bergen. Great choice for Open Air museum in Norway—very well designed and presented.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Quite a few, but highlights are Bergen and the mountaintop view at sunset, Aero Island, plus the restored Saluhall in Stockholm. Lastly, the people of Scandinavia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide, caring, and generous

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norway fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have enjoyed previous Rick Steve's tours but this one had the perfect mix of museums, castles, excursions, outdoor activities, boat rides and beautiful scenery as we traveled from place to place.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had two wow moments - one was seeing Copenhagen. It is an amazing and beautiful city. I could have done one more day here just exploring and seeing all the amazing sites. The second was the boat ride through the Norwegian Fjords - what a beautiful world we live in."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Blessed with wonderful weather and "no grouches". Very knowledgeble guide, great locations and some very memorable meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Invited into our guide's home and told we could ask any question at all."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The weather gods were smiling on us. Great guide and great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Frogner Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide (Asa) and a fun, friendly tour group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We experienced things that we could have never done on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wooden boat ride. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was so well organized, interesting, fun and educational. We LOVED our guide and the other tour members were a joy to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! But I guess traveling by bus through the mountains of Norway and cruising through the fjords. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had always wanted to tour the Scandinavian countries and the tour program met all expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was especially impressed with Oslo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Entering Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great. We had a wonderful guide and great group of folks. Most of the in-country guides were excellent.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A rush of experiences stimulating all of my senses connected by a super tour leader, local guides and a fantastic itinerary: Great capital cities, old and new architecture, beautiful countrysides, breathtaking mountains and fjords, small town kitschy charm, surprise discoveries at every turn. History, culture, tasty food, camaraderie, an unforgettable experience! My photos and videos renew exciting memories on each viewing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One, are you kidding!? Favorites and runners-up by category Castles/Churches: Kalmar, Stockholm city hall, Lom stavkyrkje Scenery: Fjords ferry tour, Aero Island Museums: Vasa, Viking Art: Vigeland Sculpture Park, Munch Lunch: Everts' boat house, Bregninge smorrebrod Other: H.C. Anderson, Hotell Gastis"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I would need far more characters to adequately explain how much I loved this tour. Our guide, Gabby, was absolutely tremendous at making this a memorable experience. She was charming, funny, adventurous, knowledgeable, and helpful. We had great tour members all around - truly no grumps, but more so, people you wanted to know and spend time with. The tour is well-planned with plenty of time for your own sightseeing - even with a great amount of bus time. Would highly recommend! I loved it all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was truly something I thought I would never do - I went swimming in the Baltic Sea! Gabby invited the group to go swimming - I and other tourmate joined her and I'm so happy I did. It was an experience I won't forget. My favorite "wow" that is a scheduled part of the tour was visiting the Fjords in Norway and spending time enjoying them from our cruise. Gabby got us there early, so we were the first to board and had prime seating. We also had great weather! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose one 'wow' moment, but I was blown away when Gabi's father took us into his Gamla Stan apartment in Stockholm. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good guide, good food, good company

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the culture "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavia tour, our third RS tour, gave us a wonderful overview of the area. There was a great mix of cities and more remote areas. Our tour group had real "chemistry" and we had so much fun together. I had been hesitant about all the bus time, but our tremendous guide, Gabriella, kept it entertaining and the hours passed quickly. All our RS guides have been great, but Gabby was simply outstanding and added significantly to our enjoyment of the tour. Wish we'd had more Copenhagen time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island! Totally charming and one of my favorite places on earth. Do not miss it! The Vasa museum and the fjord tour were also highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very welcoming. Most of the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The feeling that I’d known the group for a long time instead of only a few weeks. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was well paced. The local guides were charming and entertaining. The food was excellent. The scenery was breath taking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding on a small, wooden electric boat through a fiord,"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour guide was wonderful, and knowledgeable and the bus driver was excellent. They got us to all stops on time and the road trips were broken up to proper distances. The stays at several hotels were less than delightful though. The prologue to the trip saying "may or not have A/C should read no A/C whatsoever outside the lobbies. With the hot and rainy weather this was an issue as some hotel rooms didn't even have fans. Be clear, be concise and you'll have customers that understand the trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Viking Church,though we only got 15 minutes there. I'd have foregone an hour in Bergen easily to have had that hour at the church."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed meeting new people, and Nina (tour guide) was informative, helpful, and made the trip fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the bus for a scenic ride thru the Norwegian mountains."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole thing was quality--the tour guide, the attractions, the accommodations. It was a bucket list adventure. Nina added a whole level of pleasure and education to the trip, the attractions were amazing, and the accommodations, as usual, were perfectly located and comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Stockholm harbor. The weather was perfect and the image took my breath away--me coming from a city in the middle of the U.S. It was such a contrast to my usual environment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour with a great guide. You visit the iconic places of Scandinavia and it did not disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments, but one that was memorable for me was visiting the Swedish fishing town where we had a fantastic lunch and a boat ride. It was such a great setting and the local people were so friendly. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group, great guide, wonderful experience. Beautiful countries with marvelous histories. Loved every minute.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountains in Norway and the view from the top of the funicular in Bergen. There were many moments I will never forget. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavian tour gave us a new and interesting experience each day. Our guide Nina was terrific, her background stories and coming attractions enriched the trip, not to mention several local goodies along the way. We would definitely take another tour with Nina as our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kalmar Castle, the Vigeland sculptures at Frogner Park in Oslo and the fjord boat ride with many magnificent waterfalls were all unforgettable experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour group, great guide/guides, and great information everywhere! The sights were astounding. Beautiful tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our local guide in Stockholm took us to visit his family's home and answered questions about the Stockholm way of life. How often do you get that kind of insight? "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our ninth Rick Steves tour did not disappoint. RSE does an exceptional job of curating every trip's itinerary. The Scandinavian experience covers a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, while comparing and contrasting these three separate yet related countries. A college-level seminar--with accommodations, meals, transportation, and camaraderie! We could never have replicated this trip on our own. We've signed up for our tenth and eleventh tours in 2025...

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many experiences and insights. We have to acknowledge our guide Heidi who kept the group moving forward. She is resourceful, knowledgeable, and prepared for anything. The local guides respect her and enjoy working with her. The RSE guide team is a crucial value-added aspect of their tours. Heidi Hansen is a Danish, Scandinavian, and Nordic diplomat (and she'll explain the distinctions)!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Heidi was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and her choice of activities and meals were great. The hotels were also very good with wonderful breakfasts. The local guides were excellent and added a lot to our holiday. We enjoyed our relaxing stay on the island of Aero. We saw everything we had hoped to see and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed the clinker-built boat ride through the archipelago and the two hour cruise on Sognefjord. The Viking warship museum and the Hans Christian Andersen story teller in Copenhagen were also special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just excellent. It was my favorite trip to Europe ever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly, I marveled at how well balanced this trip was. The designers made sure we visited a large city then a small town; group dinner then dinner on your own; local guide then free time; bus ride with good breaks; history lesson then quiet time. We learned a lot and saw a lot, but I wasn't as stressed as I normally am during such a big trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We appreciate having our lodging, food, and transportation arranged for us. We received excellent information from the numerous guides and experiences on the tour. There were so many opportunities for us to do both with the tour and on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We thoroughly enjoyed our boat trip through the fjords of Norway! The incredible scenery and numeous waterfalls coming down from the mountains were amazing. We had good weather and were able to be in the front part of the boat, which made it extra special"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thought the experience was perfect, no complaints.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had several wow moments: Stockholm tour guide, hotel Wellington, the visit at dinner from Charles Dickens, all the Thon hotels; Denmark, Aero bike riding, trip to Varberg stop for lunch and boat ride; Norway; loved Oslo, especially vigeland statues and Fram museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Tim, was wonderful - knowledgeable, funny and adventurous. Every stop on the tour was memorable. The local guides really enhanced my experience in each city. Loved the amount of history we heard about.The food was wonderful, especially the hot dogs. I hadn't realized how diverse the landscape and culture of Scandinavia is and each stop on the tour was an entirely new experience. This was the best tour I have ever taken.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Stockholm's museums, Copenhagen's vibrant nightlife and the peacefulness of Aero Island. The sheer magnificent beauty of Norway. The FOOD was fabulous everywhere we went. But the WOW moment for me was the last evening with the group, sharing memories of our trip, laughing with each other, and exchanging contact information because we had become friends. That's what travel is about: connecting with others and making friends."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour experience was awesome from the start! Our tour guide Tim was a great leaderand our bus driver Leif was very professional, and so fun to talk with! We had a very good group of tour members; we had so much fun together!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to say; it was one "wow" after another! Just when we thought it couldn't get better, it did!! I guess we would have to say our favorite "wow" moment was on the ferry as we toured the Norwegian mountains and the magnificent Sognefjord! It was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the best yet. A lovely group of people, a great tour guide and beautiful countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several. My tops were Aero Island and The Fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Felt we were able to see so many interesting historical places. The fabulous tour guide, Tim Tendick was so in touch with the groups needs and interests. He shared his love and excitement for travel. He brought the group together and created such a meaningful and memorable trip .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fishing village , boat ride with fisherman and fabulous special lunch overlooking water ; Areo island .(night watchman, Christmas dinner,biking, wandering the small towns eating ice cream). "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed learning about the history of Scandinavia . Vikings and Bergen buildings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountains of northern Norway and the fjords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour, but not our last! We'd traveled independently using Rick's tour guides, so we expected to stay in beautiful hotels and see exciting places. However, the convenience of having a two-week tour expertly organized for us made our vacation much more enjoyable and stress-free. Traveling with a small group of pleasant companions and a knowledgeable tour guide enhanced the experience. We look forward to our next Rick Steves adventure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed many "wow" moments, but being driven from Olso to Bergen along the scenic Sognefjellet Road ranks top. The scenery is breathtaking, filled with cascading waterfalls, ice-blue glacier-fed lakes, raging white-water rivers, and stunning mountain views."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I enjoyed seeing everything on the tour, but wished we had more time, particularly in Copenhagen and Oslo. (We saw some of Stockholm on our own before the tour started.). Ideally the tour would have been a couple of days longer. Otherwise it was very enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1) Seeing the beauty of the Norwegian countryside, even in the rain. 2) Swimming in the Baltic Sea!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was nice.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Beautiful, amazing countries , friendly , funny local guide

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was our 2nd Rick Steves tour. It was more of a TASTE of Scandinavia - very rush rush rush. Wish we had spent more time in Copenhagen, and aero island. I thought Ylva was an excellent tour guide in terms of knowledge, but was not always sensitive to the group’s needs, for instance she told us at one point that we could go to the bathroom on the bus or use the woods outside. Although I understood the need for a strict timeline, there was a lot of rushing us that felt pressured

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1. Seeing and staying at Aero Island, and learning about the economic history. 2. Seeing Ylva’s house and meeting her partner. 3. Seeing for myself how Scandinavia Countries take care of each other in terms of social services 4. Swimming in the Baltic Sea. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was a ball of energy with more then enough information. She gave enough information to help when we were on our own. The bus driver was great. I thought of the motel accommodations where very nice with a great breakfast.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list. Just to be next to such old structures was so amazing and history surrounding them. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves' tour. As before, everything was excellent. Accommodations, local guides, dinners, transportation, education on the bus, etc were all outstanding. Our tour guide, Gabriella, was incredible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bike ride on Aero Island and just the island itself were incredible."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Learned a lot about Scandinavian history and culture. I felt we hit the highlights just right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island and the Viking ship museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, our driver, the pacing of the itinerary, the camaraderie—everything exceeded my expectations of what a guided tour of this sort could be like. Clearly the tour organizers did their homework, and our guide was truly masterful in executing the plans. She really made it all come alive with the depth and breadth of her knowledge and her engaging personality. Never a dull moment!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick just one, as I felt like I was saying “wow” every day, several times a day, but the folk music/dance presentation and performance at the Valdres folk museum was just magical. I can’t get over getting to see and hear that Hardanger fiddle up close. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were a bit hesitant to do an organized tour like this (we usually travel on our own). But, on this tour, we felt like we had courses in history, politics, education, and economics in every country we visited. Our guide, Gabriella, was outstanding. The mixture of activities was perfect, and there was still enough independent down time to allow us to explore what we wanted on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. I think it was the surprises— like biking on Aero island and hiking in the Norwegian mountains that put the tour over the top."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group really meshed. Hotels were good. Gabby was superb

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing tax dollars at work in Stockholm. No potholes, flowers everywhere, regal healthy people, affordable daycare, a society that cares about people and values children."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt immersed in Scandinavia, and enjoyed it thoroughly! The activities were awesome, the guides were outstanding, and the other tour members were great people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think my favorite moment was when our guide pointed out a cannon ball stuck in the wall of a building, and told us it had been there since the Stockholm blood bath of 1520. It was amusing, and drove home to me I was in a place so different, with such a long history. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabby our guide was wonderful! She was knowledgable and energetic. Per-Inge our driver was excellent. They make a great team. Lots of variety! Ferry rides, Vasa Museum, interesting quaint hotels, interesting food, museums, beautiful scenery, fun people on the tour etc. Thank you Gabby for the extra bike ride and hike.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Æeø island and Fjord."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was happy with all aspects of the tour: good itinerary, excellent guides; good hotels and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stockholm in the summer is magnificent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It is a pleasure to report that our 14 Day Scandinavian trip was simply outstanding! The itinerary lived up to Rick Steve’s promise to give an overview of the countries providing us with a feel for the cultural perspective on the lives of the people. Our tour guide, Heidi, and bus driver, Micheal, did an outstanding job and really made for a perfect trip. We were pleased with the itinerary and with the small group of only 28 persons.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to say it was the motorcycle with a side-car tour of Oslo that my daughter arranged for our personal time was definitely a highlight. We also loved the quiet pastoral countryside on the island of Aero. Our first day in Stockholm which was on a Sunday before the tour began is very memorable in that city was quiet with no traffic because businesses were closed. It reminded me of Sundays when I was a child in the US before we got so commercialized. We loved the Danish Christmas dinner!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Over-all introduction to culture, cuisine, social and political practices while enjoying the sites. Outstanding guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vasa Museum, Vigeland Park, Everts Sjobod lunch and boat ride"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Heidi was a great guide-very professional. Good group, good meals. Enjoyed the itinerary. I recommend RS to everyone. Bummer was I got covid and missed two days of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful lunch and boat ride at Grebbestad was the highlight of the trip! Gorgeous surroundings, excellent food, cold beer, lovely hosts, the best mussels I've ever eaten...that was a heavenly day! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful- the scenery, historic information and buildings, and both large cities and small towns

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. It is hard to beat the mountains and fjords of Norway, but I loved our time on the island of Aero with its quaint hotel and bike ride."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The choice of hotels (location, rooms) was good. The locations of each hotel was stellar; the hotels themselves were usually superior, with good breakfast to start off the day. Our guide (Heidi) was excellent. We couldn't have asked for a better guide; she is passionate and her depth of knowledge is impeccable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We spent a day at Grebbestad, at a family run B&B (Everts Sjöbod). We had a phenomenal lunch (mussel soup), cooked by Hannah. I went back for a total of 3 helpings because I simply couldn't get enough. To add to, and top off the incredible meal, we went on their sailboat and took a lovely cruise through the archipelago. The day couldn't have been better! It almost felt that Per and Hannah could've even influenced the perfect weather we had that day!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I found this to be a very balanced tour with time in urban areas and relaxed time in the countryside! Our tour leader, Ylva, was outstanding! Our bus driver, "Lenny" was also great. The only downside of this tour (our 4th with Rick Steves) was the amount of bus time, but it's the only way to cover so much ground! The hotels and B&Bs were all very good - especially the one on Aero! (which is sadly for sale)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were actually a few wow moments for me and nearly all happened on boats! Gliding through the Swedish archipelago was so peaceful and relaxing. And the cruise through the fjord in Norway was spectacular! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations and was one of the most magical experiences of my life. I enjoyed the perfect blend of exploring history, culture, food, shopping, and engaging with locals. I also enjoyed the company of the people on my tour, and loved our tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fjord cruise! The pictures do not do them justice. Scandinavia as a whole has pretty breathtaking scenery!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide with overall view of history and culture. Blessed with great weather and cordial natives: A typical well planned RS group trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Traverse of Norway Fjord by boat!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Naerofjord"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour - great balance of history, modern society, planned activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many - fjords and waterfalls in Norway, Aero in Denmark and Stockholm in Sweden"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour has a lot of bus riding. There are long distances covered. The hotels were mostly good and the food was pork and fish. All the breakfasts were very good. The tour guide was a 6 . She was heavy on history and light on art music and philosophy. She was organized and kept us on schedule, sometimes starting early before everyone had gathered. There were several on the bus who had come off a cruise with colds and I felt the guide should have been more proactive in suggesting masking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the boat ride in the Swedish archipelago and mussel soup."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour. We did have to cover a lot of ground so spent more time on the bus than I would have liked, but there really isn't an alternative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords. Nothing but "wow" describes them."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sites we visited were generally very interesting. Our tour guide Ylva was excellent, as were most of our local guides. A couple of the people on our tour were sick when the tour began, and they would not wear masks. Trying to avoid the inconsiderate unmasked coughing/hacking travelers negatively impacted my enjoyment of the trip. Unfortunately, some of my fellow travelers became ill during the tour. I became ill on my way home, and am still sick.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vigeland Sculpture Park was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

The tour was too many hours on the bus and too many people. Many of sites we visited I could have found on my own, and your restaurant choices are terrible. We had some excellent guides on the city tours, but that’s about all I can say that was positive for me. RS Tours encourages us to pack light, but there wasn’t one hotel where we could do laundry.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed our walking tour of Stockholm with Håkan Frändén. He’s a remarkable guy and actually opened up his home to us. Any other “wow” moments I had the trip were about the landscape, scenery and cities, and not generated by the tour itself. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Five stars for this tour, and another five stars for tour guide Nina. There’s wonder in her heart guiding you through her homeland, and even though she’s done it countless times, her passion feels fresh, never shopworn. And much appreciation for taking the cringe out of the ritual Rick Steve’s Name Game. (But nobody tell Rick...)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Observing why Scandinavian countries constantly rank among the happiest on earth. While so many Americans shake their fists at fellow citizens for lifestyle choices that don’t affect their own lives at all, the folks here could give a whit about how others live their lives—preferring a hygge life appreciation instead. (Look it up, or better yet, come witness it yourself.) But my actual WOW 'moment' was the magical walk through Viegland Sculpture Park—Oslo’s stunning outdoor art gallery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Nina was great, as was our coach driver, Johnny. The trip was well paced and I really appreciated having a day of R&R in Aero in the middle of the trip. Unfortunately, I used most of time recuperating from a cold, but I surely needed it. The hotels were all nice. I liked the guest house in Aero; it was unique and fun. Of course, we didn’t have enough time in the three big cities, but that just means that I’ll have to come back.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Talking to two Norwegian men about the town my college friend’s family came from and then being able to take pictures of the town (Underdal) as we passed by on the fjord boat tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was less physically demanding than my previous tour (Turkey) but still a very tight schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero and the day in the fishing village of Grebbested were my favorite locations but I am still blown away with the mosaics in the Town Hall in Stockholm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed it enough that I want to try other Rick Steves tours. Gabriella was a big part of the tour success. It ended too soon, but I could not have gone on much further.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t have a single favorite. I loved the fjord trip, once I got outside the cabin. Mt. Floyen was special. I enjoyed seeing our guide’s home in Gamla Stan. I liked having time to ourselves in each of the cities."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Tour was tempered by the rainy weather. There were a couple of people who made the tour uncomfortable for many of the tour members by complaining and cursing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Vasa. It amazed us with its size and ornate wood work."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had wonderful experiences in all three Scandinavian countries. Enjoyed all of the different cuisine, cultural experiences and historical sights each country offered. Gabriella, our guide, was exceptional. She provided abundant information regarding history, regional customs and culture. The spontaneous picnics featuring local snacks and cuisine were an unexpected treat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the museums featuring the art of Scandinavian masters and the restores salvaged ships. The castles and palaces were also memorable. The village of Ærøskøbing was a delightful place to wander and enjoy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Delightful from start to finish - Gabriella, meeting the others and learning not only names but through the days about their lives and travels, Mehdi, our wonderful driver, stunning landscapes, sumptuous breakfasts, very knowledgeable local guides, and regional hospitality. This was a fabulous tour experience for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"AErøskøbing was idyllic and so charming, Fjords and waterfalls absolutely breathtaking. Each day brought something brilliant. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Much deeper and more variety than I could have discovered had I planned the trip myself. I left the tour feeling I had a real good feel for authentic Scandinavia. The tour was very well organized and thought out, and the guides were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of arresting things, but the "wow" were the fjords of Norway. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Gabby, was absolutely wonderful. I really enjoyed my fellow travelers. The itinerary was interesting and well paced. Everything about it was good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn't expect to connect as well with my fellow travelers. I have been on RoadSholar trips and take it for granted there. I didn't think it would be the same on a Rick Stevens trip, but it was! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

loved it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"historic ship display"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour had very little, if any, hitches. The weather was quite cooperative as well, but I have no doubt I would not have enjoyed it less if it had been rainy. Our group was fun and up for anything. Pål, our guide, kept the pace and interest high, even on long stretches in the bus. He provided lessons in the culture, the food, the language, the history, and organized some fun games in the bus to keep us engaged. I would rate Pål as the best guide we’ve had so far.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say the boat tour through the granite islands and meal in the fishing town in Grebbestad, Sweden took this honor. The beautiful houses along the water, the gorgeous weather, and the delicious mussel soup made for a perfect experience. My husband would pick the stop in Lillehammer. The Olympics and open air folk museums were fascinating. Sitting in the little schoolhouse and in the church for a “day in the life” of Norwegian a hundred or more years ago brought it all together. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Typical Rick Steves tour, everything went according to plan, all the guides were wonderful, and it was a fun group to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The little unexpected touches, the musician who came to Stockholm city hall and gave us a mini concert with her traditional Swedish keyed violin and Hans Christian Anderson who showed up at dinner in Copenhagen to regale us during dinner."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was fabulous, the whole experience was first class. Our tour guide, Pal was outstanding! At each stop a specific guide gave valuable information about the site/ city we were visiting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Didn't really have just one "wow" moment, as a whole it was wow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour of Scandinavia was undeniably outstanding! I was provided with remarkable exposure to life in Sweden, Denmark and Norway...beyond what I was hoping to experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were way too many "wow" moments to have a favorite. Our primary guide, Pal Johansen, went above and beyond between tour stops by providing snippets of history, modern culture, statistics, lessons in language, samples of food, factoids, trivia and games that kept us learning the entire tour. I took seven pages of notes as Pal presented details for each country and tour stop and will use those notes to reinforce remembering the tour! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Only reason why I'm not giving an outstanding is because of the long bus rides, for which there really isn't any solution. And we knew this tour had longer time on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"swimming the in Oslo fjord/downtown with my boys and the tour guide. Just a cool thing to do."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group dynamics and our guide meshed together brilliantly. Paul was thoroughly knowledgable and a good" people" person. The Scandinavian counties are beautiful and his love and enthusiasm came through!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On the island of Aero, we did a drive around the island and stopped at a lovely lookout spot. Most of us walked down through the meadows and hill to overlook the ocean. Hearing the ocean breaking on the beach and the birds calling. The silence and wind rustling through the grasses was a" take your breath away" time of peace."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent travel experience! The accommodations were very comfortable, great locations to walking the area attractions, meals were outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Of course the fjords were breathtaking, but what really added to our trip were the Hans Christian Andersen impersonator, and the musician who performed for our group at the city hall in Stockholm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the best tours we’ve taken. Beautiful scenery and people. Our guide was exceptional

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful mountain region of Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved this tour. From the first day it was fun, educational, interesting. The city guides were all excellent. The weather was mostly cooperative (we were lucky!). The sites and museums all fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Pål was for sure a wow guide! We have been on 11 tours and he is by far the best guide we have had. He was knowledgeable, always had a local treat for us, gave us history and politics of the regions…such a great guide. My other wow moment was the archipelago boat ride and the mussel soup! Fun and delicious! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Delightful in every way - truly loved the mix of city/country adventures, the guides (especially Pal), the education and food!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One wow moment is impossible - I would like to live in both Norway and Sweden and explore a whole lot more."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was better than any experience I could have imagined!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot think of one particular moment; whatever moment we were in was the best at the time! To name just a few WOW moments, I would include the guide in Sweden that invited us into his home for a visit, the beauty of the ride through the archipelago, our guide, Pol who treated us like lifelong friends and shared so much great information everywhere we went, and the drive and cruise through the fjords. These are just a few of the WOW moments!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an excellent overview of Scandinavia. It was a good combination of cities and rural communities. Our guide, Heidi, was very knowledgable and kept the group engaged.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed our visit to the coastal village of Grebbestad where we had a seafood lunch and small boat tour. Of course, the fjords in Norway were spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide (Heidi) and the best group of people we've ever toured with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjords of Norway and our boat ride on the way to Oslo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Heidi, was friendly, very knowledgeable and a great manager of our entire trip. Our diverse group of travelers became friends very quickly. The hotels were all in central locations and each was unique in its own way. The local city guides were enthusiastic about their city and their walks gave you a good feel about the neighborhood. The itinerary was well planned. We had free time to explore on your own. The bus, boat and ferry rides were enjoyable. I would change nothing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but the ferry ride through the fjords was my “wow” 2 hours!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From our tour group, itinerary, guide and bus driver the tour was awesome. I learnt so much history from our guide about each country and city . I would highly recommend a Rick Steves tour. This was our first tour and it won’t be our last.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving over the Oresund bridge and tunnel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent. Heidi provided great insights into Scandinavian culture, history, and music and also supplied good snacks. The tour group was filled with pleasant people who added their own great observations and wonderful conversations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Sweden, Kalmar Castle and the archipelago cruise. In Denmark, Aero Island. In Norway, the National Museum and two fjord cruises (one with the group and the other after the tour ended)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th RS tour. It met the high standard I have come to expect from your tours. The guides were entertaining and informed, the accommodations were excellent. I very much enjoy the focus on beautiful places, as well as the history, culture, pop culture and art/architecture of every place we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are a few: the Stockholm City Hall, visiting Jorgen' s(sp?) apartment, Aero Island, B&B Boat Ride, and those gorgeous fjords."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed all the things we saw and learned about Scandinavia. Ylva and Igor were great tour guides and informed us about the countries, both historically and economically.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Sognefjord cruise. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized and professional

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Norway Mountains on the bus with music being played on the bus speakers."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first land tour and we were extremely pleased with the itinerary, our amazing guide and her associate, hotels and all the extra surprises that were thrown in along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW moment was going up the mountains to the fjords with music that was perfect for the journey and then taking the ferry down the spectacular fjords. It was a day I will never forget!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic the tour guide and assistant were great always there for us the tour itself was unbelievable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can really say I fully enjoyed every minute if the tour, I hated to see it end."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was amazing and exceeded my expectations. My tour guide and apprentice were knowledgeable and provided an amazing experience that I will never forget.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat tour of the fjords in Norway. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 14-day Scandinavia itinerary had a wonderful mix of big cities, countryside, and quaint seaside harbor towns. We loved our tour guides and the local guides in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Kalmar, and Aeroskobing. We learned so much about the history of each site we visited and each country’s economic, political, and social systems. We enjoyed all of the hotels—ideally located when touring on our own. The huge bus had wifi and chargers for our group of 28 so we could spread out comfortably.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were SO many WOW moments! Our time on the island of Aero and quaint town of Aeroskobing was magical. We also loved Stockholm and Copenhagen. Our time with Hans Christian Anderson in Copenhagen was an absolute delight! Our guides, Ilva and Igor, were the BEST…so knowledgeable, so engaging, so enthusiastic and energetic, so kind and welcoming and very comfortable listening to a variety of political opinions from members of our tour group. This trip definitely exceeded our expectations!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved it. So well planned including guidance for on your own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Treeless, snowy switchback Mountain View’s, drive and photo ops."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our guides were outstanding. I enjoyed the tour content and I was very impressed that each hotel was very centrally located and near all the attractions and public transportation

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ærø island. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. Everyone was friendly and it was fun to have a short break in a quiet location to enjoy a bike ride, walk, visit the beaches, etc. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide Opportunities for great overview

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero island beauty "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was an excellent balance of seeing key attractions in the major cities, and natural environments (Aero Island, Sweden archipelagos, Norwegian mountains, and Norwegian fjords). Our tour guide, Nina, was outstanding! Although we spent a lot of time in the bus, Nina made the time go by quickly. We liked having the opportunity to see all three countries. This was our first Rick Steves tour, and it was awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The archipelagos in Sweden (Stockholm and the west archipelago) was my favorite wow moment. They were beautiful, and it was great getting out on the water. Although we got rain that impacted our fjord trip, the fjords were awesome and certainly another wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved it ! Every day presented new experiences and adventures ! Our tour group was filled with exceptional people eager to explore and meet new people aided by our experienced and wonderful guide, Nina, she is a star !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments its hard to choose just one ! We really loved the slow pace of AEro. The vibes of Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo. Exciting. The natural beauty of these countries is staggering. So much to see and do 14 days is just not enough."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Itinerary allowed us to see significant aspects of Scandinavia in a brief amount of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat ride on the Sognefjord - awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour offered a balance of history, culture, and free time. There was also a great balance of activities, walking tours, museums, dining experiences, etc. Our tour guide, Nina, had exceptional knowledge and great skill in connecting with everyone on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It wasn't so much a "moment", but an overall appreciation for the values of the Scandinavian people. Family and community are their priorities and they have an immense appreciation for nature."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So well organized, so well planned and executed. Terrific group, wonderful guide and the counties visited were so well worth the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the fjords and the countryside in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I fell in love with Scandinavia and enjoyed every aspect of the tour. Our wonderful guide Nina, our great group of fellow travelers, the spectacular scenery and beautiful cities, large and small, made this one of the best RS tours I have been on. And I have been on nine!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountains and fjords of Norway. The quiet beauty of Åero, Stockholm wowed me too. I could pack up and move there"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountains and fiords of Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our ninth RS tour and one of the best. The beauty of the area was amazing. The cities seemed less crowded, and the people in all three countries were very friendly. English was spoken so frequently that it was easy to forget we were in Europe. We were fortunate to have Nina, a competent and friendly guide. She was great at leading our amazing tour group through their paces. What a fun, compatible, friendly group of people from all over the country. Overall, a great trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment for me was the fjords in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Seamless. I learned so much from all the guides but it was the little things, local snacks on the bus, learning about local culture, government, history from Nina that made the trip extra special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Day 1 in Gamla Stan, Nina and the local guide gave us powerful history but he took us into his home! We asked all the questions we had about day to day life and everything else we could think of and he was so accommodating. The rest of the tour was consistent with that experience. I realized how absolutely well prepared everything having to do with a Rick Steves tour would be. I am still just blown away from the experience. I am already looking forward to our next one!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This trip was in late May to early June and the daytime population density in Copenhagen was intense. Except for open plazas, it seemed to me very crowded while walking down the sidewalk or a “pedestrian” street. Someone spotted a tour boat during a boat tour and maybe this was the cause, but I have never felt so crowded within a city. The trip to Aero was nice but what to do but go on a bike ride, which I did. These two things result in my downgrade to very good rather than outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kronberg Castle and the fjords. The castle in Kalmar Sweden may be impressive but to me what was more visually stunning was the Kronborg castle located adjacent the short lunch stop in Helsinger Denmark. Just viewing the massiveness of this towering structure and thinking that this castle had at one time three moats (?) surrounding it was just “jaw dropping.” The fjords, the true highlight of this trip, did not disappoint in making one feel small and insignificant."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavia tour exceeded my expectations with a fun group and a super great guide, Gabriella. Her bus narratives were so informative and her suggestions for places to eat, see, shop and SWIM were invaluable to me. Stockholm was my favorite hotel, Christmas dinner in Aero was my favorite meal and the Kon-tiki museum in Oslo was my favorite museum. As my 11th Rick Steves tour, this one should not be missed. You’ll cover a lot of space and learn a lot of Nordic history. Thank you, Gabriella.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments included the ferry ride on the Norweigian Sognefjord with all the wind and waterfalls, the bike ride on Aero, the many bronze statues in the big Oslo park, and of course all my swimming spots—the Copenhagen canal, the Aero beach pier and the floating saunas in front of the Oslo opera house. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Truly unforgettable! A dream come true visiting the country my grandparents immigrated from Norway.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many Wow moments! Stockholm and beautiful people and bikes! Copenhagen, more bikes and canal tour; Varburg and the “Lenin” hotel; Evertssjobod Grebbestad and their boat tour and delicious mussel stew; hotel breakfasts; time spent in the mountain and staying in a mountain lodge; the Aero Islands and our stay at the bed and breakfast; Oslo and the museums and the sculpture park! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Wasa Museum, what a historically significant discovery and well done exibition of the life and times, and one amazing ship."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations with surprising visits to a residents apartment and a small village with lunch and a boat tour of small islands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was wowed by the vistas of the mountains of Norway with the x-c skiers enjoying the sunshine on the mountain tops."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Scandinavian Tour was wonderful! Our tour guide - Gabriella was amazing! Besides all the beautiful sights ~ museums, castles and churches ~ learning about the history and culture from Gabriella was undeniably the most amazing experience. And our tour through old town Stockholm was with Gabriella’’s father ~ ending with a visit to a true Swedish home. The personal touch was the best! And our tour group was the best ~ so much fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norwegian Mountains and the scenic drive through the pass. And ending with the beautiful Fjord cruise! All the small towns were the best! Bergen was my favorite!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second Rick Steves tour and first for my husband. We loved the experience and enjoyed the camaraderie of our fellow travellers. Gabriella our tour guide was outstanding! Scandinavia and sights we visited will be lasting memories. The tour was well planned and accommodations fantastic. My husband is a Rick Steve’s convert and future trips are in the works. Throughly recommend Scandinavia tour and especially Gabriella!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was the Stockholm experience and in particular the Vassa museum. For my husband I can safely say that it was the Norwegian mountain drive and fjord cruise - magnificent!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary, group, weather, and our guide, Gabriella were fantastic. Gariella's enthusiasm and sensw of humor are infectious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"2 Wow moments. Aero Island and the Grebbestad boat trip and fresh muscle lunch."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabriella was awesome, always upbeat and very informative!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"loved the local guides too, especially Hans Christian Andersen"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great trip a nice mix of activities and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was impressed when local guide Holkum invited us into his home in Stockholm "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved the hotel rooms and breakfasts. Trip overall the trip exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The side trips we took that other tours bypass like the stone carvings, Aero islands, and fishing villages."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, we were very pleased with our trip. We enjoyed our fellow travelers as well as getting impssions and information about various Scandinavian places and aspects of the cultures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our boat trip in the archipelago on Sweden's west coast was special, as was the lovely meal in the boat house. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour gave us a broader experience of the three Scandinavian countries ithan we could have experienced if we just traveled on our own to the capital cities. The tour included smaller cities, the countryside, and small towns. It was nice to explore both coastal and the interiors regions and enjoying magnificent scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Vasa Museum and seeing the 300 year old ship as it is now displayed. We were also impressed by the beauty of the Norwegian mountains and fjords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of people, our guide, Heidi, was fantastic and each country had so much to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Norway. The fjord cruise, the Stave church were definitely highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Visiting Scandinavia was more than I expected. The tour experience was excellent due to our guide, Heidi H. and bus driver, Roger. Heidi planned wonderful stops along the way and gave us plenty of time on our own to shop and explore. I learned so much of the culture and way of living in Scandinavia due to Heidi's expertise and knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to say driving into Norway was just beautiful and the Swedish west coast archipelago boat tour top the list. Lunch with Hannah and her homemade Mussel soup and cake were fantastic!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All the tour guides were knowledgeable and articulate. Heidi, our main tour guide, was very organized and kept everything on track.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the two hour cruise down the fjord in Norway with beautiful mountainsides and cascading waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Varied venues of cities and small towns, the interesting stops that made the long bus rides seem short and Norways scenery awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat tour of the Norway fjords(sp?)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Heidi (over-all tour guide) was terrific--well organized, friendly, informative, and even-tempered no matter what. The local tour guide in Bergen spent way too much time showing us the fish market.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the Norwegian fjords."

The Scandinavia tour was beyond my expectations, what an absolute fun, beautiful & informative tour. Heidi was so patient, kind, and shared a lot of history and kept us safe and on time. Our bus driver Roger was a super great driver and the bus was very clean & comfortable everyday. I could do this tour all over again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Aero island in Denmark. What a dreamy wonderful place!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the overall view of Scandinavia. The many side trips to small local venues that we would never find on our own added greatly to our appreciation of the three countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa Museum was much more than expected and very well done."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing experience on our first Rick Steves tour. Heidi, our tour manager, was incredible. Her knowledge, professionalism, and friendliness set a high standard for future guides. The places visited, experiences and local tours were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many great moments on our tour. Our visit to the boathouse with lunch and then a boat tour was one of my favorite experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceptional guide. 24 fellow travelers who were interesting and fun to associate with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bike ride in Aero. Boat trip on the Norwegian fjord"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the waterfalls in the Aurland region."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ylva was amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Doing yoga with Ylva and the way she connected to the group. A very personal satisfying experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ylva was a great guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjord cruise and driving through Norway's mountains!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Rick Steves tour members are always friendly, considerate, well travelled and interesting people making them excellent travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Our tour guide... Ylva...who shared so many stories ..about history, politics, music, societal structure, local treats. She was always upbeat and available and recognized when we need quiet time too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavia is truly beautiful and I am overjoyed that I had the blessing of having such an amazing tour guide Ylva show it to us. She truly cared about everyone on this trip having the best experience and helping them see and do everything they were interested in . She answered questions about places we would be seeing, told us fascinating history, and asked us what we would be interested in seeing on our free time and then made suggestions based on our interests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the sunrise over the boats at the dock. Roaming a castle. The cruise in the Fjord. Breakfast with the group. Visiting the Opera House. Walking in Stockholm, Varberg, Copenhagen, Oslo. I can't pick 1...it was all wonderful!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was another outstanding Rick Steve Tour experience. Like so many others, this was our 3rd Rick Steves experience, having done "Paris and the Heart of France" and "Ireland", I love the format, "Seeing Europe through the Back Door" utilizing local guides, and numerous "surprises" each day!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Th.ere were many "wow" moments, but my favorite relates to my Great-Great-Grandfather James Severson. He was born in Nord Aurdal, Norway in 1832 and immigrated to the United States in 1853. He settled near Lacrosse, Wisconsin, bought farm land, and then served in the Civil War. As our tour group left Oslo, bound for the Valdres (Open Air) Folks Museum, I "pinned" his birthplace on a Google Map. We came within 2 km of his birthplace (Follinglo Farm)"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was informative with experienced and knowledgeable guide Ylva leading our exploration into Scandinavia's art and cultural heritage. Elva made discreet consideration of our special need to find toilets in the middle of our 2 hours walking tour. Much appreciated her warm and friendliness to us. Elva also invited us to join a What's app chat group during the tour. It enhanced our tour group info exchange and built cohesiveness during and after the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjord Country and the 2 hour scenic Sognefjord cruise was a 'wow' moment. The scenic mountains drive was also memorable. The staying in a peaceful mountain inn was also way up there for me. Day 9 I love the 19th century boat house mussel soup lunch and the boat ride from the pier into the Swedish west coast archipelago. Quite a special treat."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well coordinated and a great group. Ilva was a powerhouse guide! Full of energy and information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fiords of Norway. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, Rick Steves' tour rocks! We had a great time with an excellent guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

""Nature!" Especially Aero Island and Fjord curises are highlight of the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic itinerary, superb knowledgable guide Pal. I learned so much about each area we visited, its culture, the lifestyles of the people in those areas. Along the way had fun! The tour participants couldn't have been any more pleasurable to be around, it was almost like they are hand picked to get along for two weeks!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sadly there isn't just one single "wow" moment, it was one big "WOW" experience from beginning to end. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A truly Wonderful tour! The guides both tour and local were friendly and professional!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW moments! It is hard to choose just one moment, so I refuse...here are just a few...The Vasa museum, the electric ferries, the number of bicycles, the viking museum, the bridges, the waterfalls, the 15 mile tunnel, the friendly group we toured with, in fact the whole tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was better than we could have imagined! We felt well taken care of and challenged to experience new things.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa museum was a life long dream to visit. The magnitude of the ship was amazing. The fjords were beautiful. The cyclists in Copenhagen kept us alert and agile."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

P(o)al was an awesome guide. He is quite knowledgeable about Scandinavia and shared much of the culture and everyday life. The whole experience was improved by sites and activities offered and planned. I left feeling like I had really experienced the countries we visited. Igor was apprenticing and it right in with the group, he'll be a great asset when he is ready to be on his own. The experience was greatly enhanced by their leadership

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was excited to learn how my great-grandmother got her maiden name ( from a town I did not know existed) and not have her fathers name suffixed by sen/son"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed with the warmth, openness and beauty of Scandinavia and its people. After taking the tour, I realized that it had exceeded my expectations and wished others could share this so positive experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"You are asking me to choose my “favourite child”. I think it was being exposed to an open, welcoming people who really do live in an exemplary society."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely everything was wonderful, a perfect experience in every way from the excellent guide Pål, the great hotels, informative history lessons, fabulous restaurants and local tours. I would recommend this tour to everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say as it was all good, but the Norwegian outdoor open air history museum, the mountains and fjords were fabulous. I have Norwegian ancestors who emigrated in the mid1800’s so it was very interesting to imagine their lives there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves' tour, and we had the most wonderful time exploring Scandinavia with our lovely tour group. It was clear to us that every aspect of the tour had been carefully planned: from the hotels to the museums to the local guides. Additionally, our tour guide (Pål), apprentice (Igor) and bus driver (Per-Inge) were all kind and knowledgeable individuals who enhanced our tour experience. There was never a dull moment. I would absolutely recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many amazing moments on our tour of Scandinavia (e.g., seeing the Norwegian fjords for the first time, etc.), but my favorite "wow" moment was renting some bicycles and cycling through Ærø Island with some of our tour group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Pal, and his apprentice, Igor, made the tour run smoothly and kept it fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding over the mountain pass in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was very well structured to give us the best experience of Scandinavian history, culture, art, and beauty. I had anticipated that it might be a bit dull but it was anything but. I learned a great deal, enjoyed all the beauty around us, met wonderful people, and felt very well- looked-after. What more could you want from a holiday?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vigeland park in Oslo. I had never before experienced sculptures with so much soul. And the natural setting was amazing. It took my breath away."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vigeland sculpture garden in Oslo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide and intern were fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going over the snow-capped mountains in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick's Guides check ALL the boxes!!...All we have to do is show up and enjoy!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "Surprise Meeting" with Gabriella's Mother, Father, Brother....demonstrates the Quality of Rick's Philosophy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

If something could have gone right it did, in a big way. The history, the culture, the people, the mountains and the food. It was a delight from start to finish.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing in a room where several hundred years before really big and historical events had taken place. I stood where the king and his court stood."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great guide, Gabriella, who kept us on schedule, smoothly dealt with unexpected situations and was always calm, genial, and helpful. We had great tour karma: good weather, two opportunities to see royalty, and we in Bergen for Constitution Day (which was 80 degrees!). The hotels were great, food was excellent, and the cities chosen were enjoyable and offered more than we could take in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmmm. We had so many wows: the unexpected visits of the Danish King and Queen to Stockholm and Oslo, a visit with my penpal of 60 years in Varberg, Sweden, Hans Christian Andersen joining us for dinner, a visit to a home in Gamla Stan, and more breakfast than I have ever seen in my life. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Gabby was very in tune with what the guests needed. She always had positive energy and engaged us in different activities, including fun games to help us learn each other's names, and gave interesting facts about the places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The surprise visit to the home of the local tour guide in Stockholm, who also happened to be the father of Gabby (main guide)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded our expectations from the previous RS tour of Switzerland which was really great. We saw sights that we would not see without a guide. What made this tour even special was our guide Gabriella. Not only does she have total command of the subject but brings a personal touch to her job. Really over the top.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited Grebbstaad an took a tour around the bay and when we returned had fish soup. That doesn't sound like Wow when I write it but it was the best part of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous. From the weather, to the guides, and the scenery - all exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’m sure it was planned by our local guide, but “happening upon” the Danish Royal visit in Stockholm. Seeing them arrive in in the golden boat was amazing."